Sugar-cane hook



(No Model.)

J. T. MOORE. SUGAR CANE HOOK.

No! 546,741. Patented Sept. 24, 1895,

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JOHN T. MOORE, OF, SCHRIEVER, LOUISIANA.

SUGAR-CANE HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,741, dated September 24:, 1895.

Application filed March 25, 1895- Serial No. 543,109. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. MOORE, a citizen of the United-States, residing at Schriever, in the parish of Terre Bonus and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Sugar-Cane Hooks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in sugar-cane hooks, and is designed for use in pulling seed-cane out of the windrow for planting purposes; and the novelty will be fully understood from the following description and claim, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a perspective view of my improved device.

In sugar-growing countries it is the practice in putting up cane for planting purposes to cut the cane and bury it in long rows or beds, covering it sufficiently with the earth, and there let it remain until the following spring or planting season. In removing the cane from the windrows it required, first, acertain number of men to remove the dirt, and others with hand-hooks to pull the seed-cane out. This practice has been found both expensive and objectionable, as it very frequently happens that two or more men using hand-hooks will pull unevenly or one with greater force thanjthe other, which causes the cane to break and consequently lose the knuckles or joints in the stalk, and therefore a less quantity of cane is produced. A further loss has been caused by the splitting of the cane when using the hand-hooks, as they are thrust forcibly into the earth by the operators, so as to get below the cane, and it is necessary that a number of strokes be made before the cane is finally brought out of the windrow, the cane being in danger at each stroke to damage and injury either by being split or broken.

By my invention all of these objections are overcome and a device produced by which all of the labor heretofore employed is dispensed with and the cane is removed from the windrow in a clean and sound condition.

In the drawing, A indicates a beam of a sufficient length and width, and which is provided at its forward end with a ring or clevis.

a for the attachment of a mule or other draftanimal.

B indicates two handles. These handles may be mortised at their lower ends, as shown at b, and secured to the beam by means of bolts 0 or the like. These handles, which extend upwardly and rearwardly, also deflect laterally, being spread sufficiently to receive the ends of a metallic brace C. This brace is composed of a flat bar of metal bent in an angular manner and has its two upright branches d, which extend from the horizontal branch e, secured to the handles, as shown.

D indicates two hooks. These hooks are preferably composed of flat metal having a sweeping curvature f and the curved portions directed slightly forward and pointed, as shown at 9, so that they will engage the cane in the windrows and roll it out without bringing with it any perceptible quantity of the earth. These bars are bent inwardly oblique near their forward ends, as shown at h, and thence horizontally, as shown at t, where they are secured to opposite sides of the beam 0. by means of boltsj orv the like. These two hooks are arranged parallel to each other, and they are separated sufficiently to catch or engage the cane near each end or, at such points as not to break or injure the stalk. 'The brace O is secured at its angles by bolts or rivets k to the horizontal portions of the hooks, as shown.

It will be observed that the hooks are so arranged as to engage the cane at the desired points, and they are so shaped that the cane will roll up on them as they are brought in contact therewith and thereby be removed from the windrow without injury. It will also be observed that on account of the narrowness of the hooks D but little power is necessary to drag their depending portions through the earth, which is a desideratum.

I am well aware that cultivatorstandards having downwardly sweeping curves provided with comparatively narrow penetrating blades and made adjustable so that they can be arranged parallel one to the other are old, and I make no claim to anything that might be construed to cover such construction; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

The cane hook described, consisting essenas not to cut the cane, and the angular strap brace 0 arranged in roar of the beam and having its ends connected to t? nd .rwi' its lower portion interposed bGtWOL-u and connected to the hooks D, all as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 20 in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN T. MOORE. Witnesses:

T. J. ODENDOT, JNO. J. WARD. 

